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Latest Articles

I was fortunate enough to get an early hands-on with Welcome to the Dungeon, the retro RPG-inspired defence game from the team behind Jelly Dash.
When you thwack that play button, you'll notice that a lot of attention has been put into making the presentation look like a highly evolved 8-bit / 16-bit RPG, but the game is actually a lot closer to a simpler tower defence game with some gambling mechanics thrown in for good measure.
You take your chances on a roulette wheel to summon new creatures, spin a one-armed bandit to see which enemies you'll face next, and then use strategy to place your monsters in the right order or your dungeon, so that you can best the pesky adventurers that invad…

One of Koei Tecmo's official sites has unveiled Dynasty Warriors Blast for iPhone, iPad, and Android, and it's coming out this July in Japan.
The official announcement on Koei Tecmo's website refers to the game being based on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 title Dynasty Warriors 7, and indeed the screens so far suggest an intense action game similar to the console outings.
But it's likely there will also be some significant differences between the home and mobile platforms too, and there are even vague hints that you will see the various warlords - many of which have starred in the series since 1997 - in a completely new way throughout the campaign.
Premium characters will be available…

We brought you news of Soul Guardians: Age of Midgard being released on iPhone and iPad (after a spell on Android) a few days ago, but I've now had a bit of time to put the game through its paces and see what it actually plays like.
In the hands-on video below you'll see the core concepts of the game in motion, the versatile attacks, a few monsters, and the highly customisable (not to mention visually spectacularly) Soul Arts in action.
So click play and take a peek, then pop into the comments to let me know if you'll be embarking on some of Soul Guardians: Age of Midgard's MMO action RPG quests any time soon.…

Google is making interesting use of it world mapping technology with the augmented reality game Ingress that just hit the App Store.
A sci-fi backstory frames Ingress. A new power source has been revealed by scientists and, while its benefits may be great some, worry that it may control the way we think. Now a secret war rages around us and you must pick a side: fight to free the power with the Enlightened, or protect our humanity with the Resistance.
The goal of Ingress is to search the world around you for landmarks. Using your iPhone to track down targets, you then scan whatever notable marker you have found to activate a portal. Doing this adds to your factions Mind Points in th…

It's easy to make Clash of Clans when talking about Plunder Pirates because... well... well because it's a very clear inspiration for the game.
But when you see it running it becomes clear how much more impressive this game is with its presentation: this is a super high quality production, with tip-top visuals and excellent soundtrack.
The longer you play the game, the more you begin to realise that this isn't a simple knock off job, it's an evolution of the core strategy management genre ideas, with compulsive exploration elements thrown in for good measure.
Take a look at the hands-on below, then let us know what you think in the comments.…

I don't think I could hold my own in a big manly man talk about football down the pub. The current state of the Premier League is a mystery to me, and the only thing I know about the most recent World Cup is that this Brazilian man is very sad for some reason.
But that hasn't stopped me loving the heck out of Uppercup Football.
You have to get the ball from one end of the pitch to the other and score a goal, like other games of soccer, but in your way are vikings, minefields, shrubbery, and all manner of other obstacles. It's all controlled by just one button, and getting a red card results in having a paper bag put on your head. Also one of my players looks like Skrillex. Awesome.
Upperc…

Strapping on a helmet hooked to a large chain that's being pulled ever-upwards by two rockets might not sound like the best course of action for someone looking to nip down the shops for some milk and bread, but if you're a sky tourist it's the only way to fly.
Enter Sky Tourist Blitz Trip, the sequel to 2013's Sky Tourist, starring the reckless-yet-cheerful Petey Pendant.
It's your job to navigate dangerous courses and grab collectables on your journey skyward, using the independently controlled rockets on the left and right of the screen to do so.
I went hands-on with Sky Tourist Blitz Trip today, here's what happened...…

After the success of our Monster Hunter Freedom Unite for iOS stream last week, we're back for more. In fact, we'll be revisiting MHFU each Friday for a fair few weeks, with some treats in store!
So, for this second episode of Monster Hunter Freedom Friday, James and Peter will hopefully heed the advice of Harry, acclaimed Prince of Reviews over at Pocket Gamer, and actually put on some armour before venturing out into the wilderness. They're not going to forget to pack their Bovril this time either.
We're all still learning the ropes, so if you're an experienced Monster Hunter please join us and send some tips our way via the in-game chat!
The show will start as per usual at 5pm UK / 9am…

Urban Trial Freestyle is a port of a Playstation game that offers you the chance to try the sport of motorcycle trials. Hopping onto a two-wheeled trickster, you must defy gravity to fly over all manner of outlandish urban areas, and make it to the end of each track.
Set across an entire city, UTF is not limited to streets and apartment blocks. You must race over a huge range of obstacles as you cross underground lines, abandoned theme parks, and construction sites. Each setting looks…

SHHH!
Shhh...
Shhh.
Hey everyone, I'm trying to keep my voice down for this one, as it's a bit spooky.
Hellraid: The Escape plonks you in an unending hell of torture and suffering in which you must creep about dank environments unnoticed by the undead guards and beasties.
It's in first person and you're basically defenceless, which gives it a vibe of Amnesia: The Dark Descent, but its many puzzles are solved with swipe gestures, leading me to make comparisons with The Room as well.
And boy is its visual and audio presentation top-notch. You have to see and hear this one running to really appreciate the work that's gone into it. So click below to take a look at Hellraid: The Escape, whi…

The company behind Soul Guardians: Age of Midgard - ZQGame - describes the title as a "hyperactive action RPG", and after spending a little while with the game at E3, I can totally see why.
The 2D Japanese-chibi-anime-inspired world, PvP and co-op MMO elements, and side-scrolling role playing gameplay are definitely reminiscent of MapleStory - which is certainly no bad thing.
It's the lavishly animated, totally bonkers, completely over-the-top Soul Arts special attacks that set it apart and warrant that "hyperactive" moniker, though. They're really quite something, as you'll see in the trailer.
Having spent quite some time on the Android store, Soul Guardians: Age of Midgard is now avai…

In Planet-HD you try your best to steer a planet away from the path of one very erratic asteroid, a timer ticking down that begs you to do better than your previous run.
This might not sound like a happy, zen-like experience, but curiously it verges on becoming one.
The trance soundtrack, the complimentary colours, the simple gameplay, and the continual words of encouragement, they all combine to make for a very positive game of dodging planetary impacts.
Take a look at my hands-on video with Planet-HD below.…

Redlynx’s free-to-play iPhone interpretation of its Trials franchise, Trials Frontier, has just been given a huge update that adds an extra track-filled island to the game.
This new landmass is named Reaper’s Finger and is not for the faint of heart. Designed for fans of the game who have been demanding more challenge, the six tracks contained on it are intended to test all of your skills.
Another huge addition to the game is control customisation. The already responsive interface now allows you to reposition its four control buttons anywhere around the screen. This should let experts carve an extra few seconds off their time or - if you’re anything like us - help you g…

Kemco has just released Fanatic Earth onto the iOS and Android app stores, and here's the elevator pitch that got me excited for that happening;
Xilleon City is the last remaining bastion of humanity, which has seen the majority of its population wiped out by an alien disease. You play as a man with probably The Best Hair Ever who is unfortunately suffering from a spot of amnesia, and pretty soon you find yourself in trouble with a gigantic (and undoubtedly evil) corporation called Cyphate.
If the above synopsis, and the below video is something you reckon you'll want to invest a few dozen hours in, then you best go grab Fanatic Earth now, as it's currently celebrating its launch with a sa…

Today I've been playing Bike Rivals from Miniclip, which is currently in soft launch in a few territories.
It's a fast-paced trials-esque game, presented in a simple but effective 2D style, and sporting rock-solid controls that are a mix of tilt and touch.
There's been a fair number of these trials games recently, but Bike Rivals distinguishes itself from the pack by being more arcade-oriented than Urban Trial Freestyle and Trials Frontier.
Here's a quick hands-on showing how I got on with the game.…